Apparatus for forming a peripheral bead in flange means of a preformed container

ABSTRACT

A closure having a peripheral flange portion provided with an annular bottom surface is sealed by the application of heat and pressure to a dish-like container having a peripheral flange portion provided with a cooperating annular top surface so as to define a high quality bonded lamination comprised of the flange portions. The outer portion of the lamination is then curled to form a high strength annular bead which defines the peripheral outline of the side wall of a sealed container.

United States Patent [15:] 3,695,806 Arfert {451 Oct. 3, 1972 [54]APPARATUS FOR FORMING A 208,097 9/1878 House ..18/DIG. 62 PERIPHERALBEAD IN FLANGE 3,396,430 8/1968 Wescott 18/ 19 H MEANS OF A PREFORMED2,272,920 2/1942 Merta ..l8/l9 BC UX 72 FONTAINSR w rt FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS I t nven or orstF A ert,Richmond, Va 1,331,941 6/1963France [73] Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company,

Rlchmond, Primary Examiner--H. A. Kilby, Jr. I i [22] pn June 2 7Attorney-Glenn, Palmer, Lyne, Gibbs & Thompson [2i] Appl. No.: 49,492 57ABSTRACT Related Application Data A closure having a peripheral flangeportion provided [63] Continuatiomimpart of sen 854,108, Aug with anannular bottom surface is sealed by the appli- 29 1969 abandone cationof heat and pressure to a dish-like container having a peripheral flangeportion provided with a 52 us. Cl ..425/398, 425/109 cooperating annulartop Surface so as to define a g [51] Int. Cl ..B29c 17/00 q y bondedlamination Comprised of the flange 58 Field of Search.....l8/DIG. 62, 19BC, 19 BE, 19 portions The Outer Portion of the lamination is thenH,,17/2 RM, 2 RP; 425/109, 398 curled to form a high strength annularbead which W defines the peripheral outline of the side wall of a sealedcontainer. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim, 23Drawing Figures 1,991,920 4/1933 Hothersall ..l8/l9BE ux 75 5 36 77- V8087 us P 2E 88 a2 g 44 84 I 8| L-IIG 7 83] s3- I 96 1 45 i 3 n2 xi 66AI08 I 3' 662i .24 64A 102. I o 1 55- 5; L E \i: 56 1 I 4:112:41 l 2 THO:JZ' "'1 Li, 85 2' 1- I -'-i 63 1,} a a 62 4, 80 87 i. J e2 50 4s 46PATENTEHum 3 m2 SHEET 1 BF 8 FIG HIS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDUCT 3 I972 SHEET3 [IF 8 V A I 0 3 6 9 4 798 mm mm INVENTOR. HORST F. w. ARFERT HISATTORNEYS PATENTEDnms I972 3. 695, 806

sum 6 0F 8 FIG-l3 INVENTOR. HORST F. W. ARFERT HIS ATTORNEYSPATENTEDncIs I972 3.695.806

sum 7 or 8 FIG-l5 INVENTOR. HORST F. W. ARFERT W' W HiS ATTORNEYSPATENTEQnms 1912 3,695,806

SHEET 8 BF 8 FIG-l7 20C 14 C INVENTOR.

. HORST F. w. A T

7 BY p l/WM,

HIS ATTORNEYS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application isa continuation-impart of application'Ser. No. 854,108 filed Aug. 29,1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In packing food products in disposablecontainers, for example, it is important that the container in whicheach food product is packaged be sealed in a high strength manner tominimize the likelihood of air leakage into the container which maycause spoilage of the food product. In addition, the container shouldhave sufficient structural strength to assure it will not be easilydamaged.

Many apparatus and methods have been proposed heretofore for making andsealing disposable food containers; however, many of these previouslyproposed apparatus and methods rely entirely on a mechanical swagingaction, or the like, to provide a seal between a container closure andan associated container and such mechanical swaging has only provensatisfactory for comparatively expensive containers which havecomparatively thick walls. Other apparatus and methods use heat sealingtechniques to fasten a closure in position and the heat sealing isgenerally achieved after the associated closure has been mechanicallyattached in position which does not assure the provision of an optimumseal between the container and its closure and it is very undesirable toprovide a seal in this manner because it tends to also heat the packagedfood product which may be detrimental thereto.

SUMMARY This invention provides an improved sealed container andapparatus for and method of making same wherein the container has aclosure which is sealed in position to a dish-like member in a highstrength manner so as to bond flange portions of the closure anddish-like member together under heat and pressure to define a highquality bonded lamination. The outer portion of such lamination iscurled to form a high strength annular bead which defines the peripheraloutline of the side wall of the sealed container with the inner portionof the lamination serving to hold the annular bead in spaced relationfrom such side wall as a protective shield therefor and said innerportion may be arranged substantially in one plane, or may have anarcuate or undulating configuration as viewed in cross section.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent as the following description of the exemplary embodimentsthereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings show apresent exemplary embodiment of this invention, in which FIG. 1 is. aperspective view of an exemplary sealed container of this inventioncomprised of a dish-like member having a substantially flat sheet-likeclosure bonded in position thereon to define a lamination or flangemeans;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodimentof the container of FIG. 1 taken essentially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1and showing, in an exaggerated manner, the heat-scalable materialprovided on the inside surfaces of the dish-like member and closure.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are fragmentary cross-sectional views similar toFIG. 2 illustrating three additional exemplary embodiments of thecontainer of this invention wherein the container of each embodiment issubstantially identical to the container of FIG. 1 with the exception ofthe cross-sectional configuration of the inner portion of its bondedlamination and a recess in its top closure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and priorto sealing the sheet-like closure in position and forming an annularhead in the outer edge portion of such lamination;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view with parts broken away illustrating oneexemplary embodiment of the ap paratus of this invention which may beused to define the sealed container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view with parts in cross section, parts inelevation, and parts broken away illustrating the apparatus of FIG. 4with the closure being urged tightly against the peripheral flange ofthe dish-like container;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view particularlyillustrating a multiple thickness annular portion defined by aperipheral flange portion of the dish-like container held against acooperating flange portion of the closures and adjoining portions of theapparatus;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the action ofthe die comprising such apparatus moved so as to fold the multiplethickness annular portion shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to define asubstantially tubular heat laminated section which is subsequentlycurled to define an annular bead;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrating the tubular sectionand adjoining portions of the apparatus;

FIG. 8A is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional viewillustrating surface portions defining an annular cutout in the lowerforming die;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and illustrating the dies andcontainer after forming the outer portion of the tubular section todefine an annular bead having a roughly circular cross-sectionalconfiguration;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 6 particularly illustrating theannular bead and adjoining portions of the apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating anotherexemplary embodiment of the apparatus of this invention which may beused to provide a peripheral bead in a dish-like container and sealedclosure to define the container of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with parts in cross section, partsin elevation, and parts broken away, illustrating cooperating dies andrings urged together to sandwich peripheral flange means of a dish-likecontainer therebetween at the beginning of an operating cycle used toform an annular bead in the outer portion of such flange means;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the action of theapparatus in folding the flange means of the dish-like container todefine a substantially tubular section which is subsequently curled todefine an annular bead;

FIG. 14 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional viewillustrating the tubular section and adjoining portions of theapparatus;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 13 and illustrating the apparatusafter forming the outer portion of the tubular section to define anannular bead therein;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14 particularly illustrating theformed annular bead and adjoining portions of the apparatus;

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 and particularly illustrating theoperation of a device used to lift the dish-like container away from thesupporting ring and its associated lower die;

FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 16 illustrating by solid lines amodification of the apparatus of FIGS. 11-16 which may be used to definethe container of FIG. 2A and illustrating by dotted lines a modificationof such apparatus which may be used to define the container of FIG. 2B;and

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 and particularly illustrating amodification of the apparatus which may be used to define the containerillustrated in FIG. 2C of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to FIGS.1-3 of the drawings which illustrate one exemplary embodiment of asealed container of this invention which is designated generally by thereference numeral 20. The container 20 comprises a dish-like containerportion or member 21 having a peripheral flange portion 22 provided witha planar top annular surface 23 and a closure 24 having a peripheralflange portion 25 provided with a cooperating planar bottom annularsurface 26. The dish-like member 21 may be made of a suitable materia1such as a metallic foil containing aluminum and has a coating or layer30 of heat-scalable material defining its inside surface and the closure24 comprises a sheet-like closure which may also be made of metallicfoil and has a coating or layer 31 of a heat-scalable material definingits inside surface.

The layers 30 and 31 of the heat-sealable material extend over planarsurface portions or surfaces 23 and 26 and define what amounts toadhesive means which serve to bond such surfaces together in a highstrength manner and provide a high quality bonded lamination 32comprised of the associated flange portions 22 and 25. The container 20also has an annular bead 33 formed in the peripheral outer portion ofthe lamination 32 and with the inner portion 34 of such lamination lyingsubstantially in one plane.

The inner portion 34 of the lamination 32 serves to hold the annularbead 33 in spaced relation from the main portion or substantiallyvertically arranged peripheral side wall of the dish-like member 21 andtective shield for such main portion. It will also be appreciated thatthe bead 33 has a substantially circular cross-sectional peripheraloutline and inasmuch as the container 20 has a roughly oval peripheralconfiguration the bead 33 has a substantially toroidal configurationwhich has high hoop strength and is capable of withstandingcomparatively high external loads applied against the bead 33 to providemaximum protection for the container 20 even under conditions where thecontainer is made of comparatively thin materials such as metal foil,laminated paper, and the like.

The flange portion 22 and 25 of members 21 and 24,

respectively, are heat laminated together utilizing those therebyeffectively uses the annular head 33 as a proportions of theheat-scalable layers 30 and 31 provided on their planar surfaces asadhesive means by the application of heat and pressure to therebyprovide a high quality seal about the entire outer periphery of thesealed container 20. The annular bead 33 is defined in container 20after sealing the closure 24 in position whereby the product 35contained within container 20 is assured of being maintained in a sealedcondition and the subsequent provision of the annular bead 33 serves toprovide added structural integrity for the container 20 withoutdisrupting the character of the seal defined between closure 24 and thedish-like member 21.

The container 20 is preferably formed utilizing the apparatus and methodof this invention and an exemplary apparatus and method is presented inFIG. 4 of the drawings and designated generally by the reference numeral36. The apparatus 36 comprises a fixed support in the form of a plate 40which has a container supporting member or ring 41 carried by support 40and preferably fixed in position thereon. The ring 41 has a planar topannular surface 42, see FIG. 5, which is adapted to support the topperipheral flange 22 of container 20 with a terminal edge portion 43 ofsuch flange extending beyond the peripheral edge of the annular surface42. The apparatus 36 also has a movable support which is in the form ofa movable support plate 44 and the plate 44 has a clamping ring 45suitably fixed thereto. The clamping ring 45 is particularly adapted toclamp both the peripheral flange 25 of closure 24 and the peripheralflange 22 of member 21 together against the top surface 42 of ring 41.

The movable plate 44 is moved toward and away from the fixed plate 40 byan actuating device comprised of a pair of direct acting fluid cylinders46 and each cylinder 46 has an outer housing 50 which terminates in amounting flange 51 which has a plurality of openings 52 therein whichare adapted to receive a threaded bolt 53 therethrough and each threadedbolt is received in a cooperating threaded opening provided in the fixedplate 40 to thereby support each housing 50 and cylinder 46 in a fixedmanner against the lower surface of plate 40. Each fluid cylinder 46 hasa piston 54 and an axially slidable piston rod 55 fixed to such pistonand extending outwardly in sealed relation through the flange portion 51and through an opening 56 in the fixed plate 40 with the terminal outerend of each rod 55 being threadedly connected in the movable supportplate 44 as indicated atv60. Each cylinder 46 has a compression spring61 acting between the bottom surface of the movable plate 44 and 'thetop surface of the fixed plate 40 and the springs 61 tend to urge plate-44 away from plate 40.

Each cylinder 46 is provided with asuitable fluid,

such as air, under regulated pressure from a suitable source and uponsupplying air through a supply conduit 62 in each housing 50 theassociated piston rod 55 is urged outwardly to move the movable plate 44away from the fixed plate 40. The movable plate 44 and its associatedcomponents are moved toward the fixed plate 40 by supplying air underpressure through supply conduits 63 extending through housings 50 ofcylinders 46.

The apparatus 36 has die means shown as a pair of cooperating dies eachcarried by an associated support or plate and each die is movablerelative to its associated plate. One of the dies shown in the drawingsas a lower die 64 is supported aroundthe container supporting member orring 41 and is axially movable relative to ring 41 and essentially alonga central vertical axis 65 through the apparatus 36. The other die 66 ofthe previously mentioned pair of dies is supported around clamping ring45 and is also axially movable relative thereto.

The lower die 64 in this example of the invention has heating meansshown as a substantially annular electrical heating device 70 fixed tothe outer surface of its top portion, as viewed in FIG. 4. The heatingdevice 70 serves to heat the die 64 and adjoining ring 41 to define thepreviously mentioned bonded lamination 32 and in I a manner to bedescribed in more detail subsequently.

The apparatus 36 may be provided with suitable automatic means to placeeach closure 24 in position over an associated dish-like container ormember 21 in an aligned manner or such closure may be placed in positionmanually. Once a particular closure is placed in position the cylinders46 are energized through a suitable control system to move the clampingring 45 and die 66 toward ring 41 and die 64 to define the multiplethickness annular portion or bonded lamination 32 essentially asillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The rings 41 and 45 anddies 64 and 65 are urged together in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 6and the heating device 70 serves to heat the outerportions of the die 64and ring 41 as well as the flange portions 22 and of dish-like member 21and closure 24, causing their respective heat-sealable layers and 31,seen in FIG. 3, adjoining annular surfaces 23 and 26 to be heat sealedtogether. The heat sealing is thus achieved under conditions of bothheat and pressure to define the bonded lamination 32 which will also bereferred to as a multiple thickness annular portion. The dies 64 and 66have suitable actuating means and are operated in a manner now to bedescribed to define a substantially tubular heat laminated section 74which is then formed to define the annular bead 33 shown in FIGS. 9 and10.

As seen particularly in FIG. 4, each die 64 and 66 has an actuator shownin each instance as an air cylinder 75. Each cylinder 75 is a reverseacting cylinder which has a piston rod 76 provided with one end fixed toan associated support plate either or 44 and its opposite end fixed to apiston 77. Each air cylinder 75 has a tubular outer housing 80 attachedto an associated die, either 64 or 66, by a plurality of pins 81 whichare axially slidable through associated openings 82 in an associatedplate either 40 or 44. Each pin has one end threadedly connected to itsassociated die as indicated at 83' and an opposite threaded end attachedto a flange 84 fixed to the base of its associated tubular housing 80 bya plurality of nuts 85 as indicated at 86. Thus, each air cylinder 75 inessence has its piston rod 76 and piston 77 fixed with respect to anassociated support plate while the housing portion 80, together withpins 81 and its attached die (either 64 or 66) move with respect to theassociated support plate and rod 76.

Each air cylinder is supplied with air under regulated pressure from asuitable pressure source to either one or the other of a pair ofconduits 87 or 88 operatively connected to housing on opposite sides ofpiston 77. As air is supplied to each outermost conduit 87, the housing80, its pins 81, and associated die fixed to such pins are movedoutwardly relative to the associated support plate until the bottomsurface of the associated die engages the inside surface of theassociated support plate. Similarly, when it is desired to move aparticular die inwardly or away from the inside surface of itsassociated support plate, air under regulated pressure is suppliedthrough conduit 88 to thereby urge the associated die inwardly or towardthe center of the apparatus 36 and in essence toward the dish-likemember 21 and its closure 24.

This arrangement of reverse acting air cylinders enables the utilizationof commercially available components while providing the application offorces on a broad stable base defined by the outside periphery of thetubular housing 80 and such stable base may be further increased inperipheral outline by using flange 84 and placing the pins 81 in theflange 84 in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the peripheralconfiguration of the associated die, whether it be lower die 64 or upperdie 66.

The dies 64 and 66 have annular projections 64A and 66A respectivelydefining the base portion thereof and each projection 64A and 66A isadapted to engage an associated inwardly extending annular flange 90comprising an integral part of an associated die holder 91. Each dieholder 91 with its annular flange 90 is fixed to an associated supportplate by a plurality of threaded bolts 92 which extend throughassociated openings in the particular support plate and throughcooperating threaded openings 93 in the die holder 91 and each annularflange 90 serves to limit movement of an associated die relative to itssupport plate.

The apparatus 36 also has suitable guide posts 95 which have their lowerends suitably fixed in the fixed plate 40 and each guide post 95 has itsupper end extending through an associated sleeve bearing 96 fixed to themovable plate 44 and through an associated aligned opening in the plate44. As the movable plate 44 is moved toward and away from the fixedplate 40, the guide posts 95 provide the guiding function in a mannerwell known in the art.

The apparatus 36 has a vacuum ring 101 suitably fixed to the fixed plate40 outwardly of the die 64 and die holder 91, see FIG. 5. The vacuumring 101 has an annular groove 102 defined therein and the groove 102has a substantially rectangular peripheral outline comprised of a pairof vertical surfaces 103 and 104. The ring 101 has a pair ofseal-supporting grooves extending inwardly therein from each of itssurfaces 103 and 104 and a pair of sealing rings 105 and 106respectively are suitably supported in such grooves. The apparatus 36also has a vacuum ring 107 suitably fixed to the movable plate 44 andthe ring 107 has a lower end portion 108 which is adapted to be receivedwithin the groove 102.

The vacuum rings 101 and 107 have a combined height which is greaterthan the combined height of the rings 41 and 45 such that upon movingthe movable plate 44 toward the plate 40 to a position where theterminal lower end of end portion 108 is moved to the dotted lineposition indicated at 109 in FIG. 5, the terfor providing a vacuum inthe chamber defined by the rings 101 and 107 and such means comprises aconduit 1 12 which extends through ring 107 and is operatively connectedto a suitable vacuum pump 113. Once the movable plate 44 is positionedso that vacuum ring 107 is in the dotted line position 109 and theclamping ring 45 is in position 110, see FIG. 5, the entire chamber 111surrounding the dish-like container and the space indicated at 115between the sheet-like closure 24 and the dish-like member 21 will beevacuated upon starting the vacuum pump 113. The apparatus 36 thenoperates to seal the closure 24 in position in a manner to besubsequently described in more detail to define the annular bead 33 inthe outer periphery of the sealed container 20.

The apparatus 36 may also be provided with means for supplying an inertfluid such as an inert gas into the evacuated chamber 111 and into thespace 115 of the container 20 prior to sealing the closure 24 inposition and such means may comprise a conduit 116 which may besuppliedwith an inert gas such as nitrogen from any suitable source suchas a supply tank 120, see FIG. 4.

As seen particularly in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the clamping ring 45 hasan outer surface 121 which defines the inside surface of the tubularsection 74 and the die 64 has an inner surface 122 corresponding inconfiguration to and being spaced outwardly from the outer surface 121by a controlled distance indicated at 123 determined by the thickness ofthe multiple thickness annular portion 32 and hence the thickness of thetubular section 74. The die 64 is moved upwardly after defining themultiple thickness annular portion 32 to define the tubular section 74and the die 66 is then moved downwardly to define the annular head 33.

As seen particularly in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the die 64 has anannular cutout 125 adjacent the outer edge of its inside surface 122 andthe die 66 has an annular cutout 126 adjoining the outer portion of itsinside surface 127. The annular cutouts 125 and 126 cooperate to definea substantially toroidal inside surface which defines bead 33 uponmoving the dies in a manner to be described subsequently.

The annular cutout 125 is defined by an outwardly posite endito therebydefine a roughly S-shaped surface on the outer edge portion of the die64, see FIG. 8A. The die 64 is adapted to be moved by its actuator orcylinder 75 by a controlled fixed distance indicated at -131to therebydefine a terminal end portion 132 in the tubular section 74 which tendsto flare outwardly into cutout 125 and is more easily engaged by theinner 8 edge 133 of the die 66 to thereby enable easier formation of thebead 33.

Having described the various component parts of apparatus 36in detail, abrief presentation will now be made to highlight the simplicity withwhich the apparatus and method of this invention enable the sealing of aclosure on an associated dish-like container in a high strength manner.In particular, it will be seen that the dish-like member 21 is supportedin position on the supporting ring'41 and a sheet-like closure 24 may beplaced in position thereon or suitably held as by vacuum or the likeagainst the lower vsurface of the clamping ring 45. The cylinders 46 arethen energized to move the vacuum rings 101 and 107 in aligned andsealed end-to-end relation to define vacuum chamber 111 while keepingthe clamping ring 45 and die 66 spaced away from the top of thedish-like member 21. The vacuum pump 113 evacuates the air from thevacuum chamber 111 thus defined and from the area 115 between closure 24and a product 35 contained in dish-like member 21. If desired at thispoint an inert gas such as nitrogen may be introduced into the chamber111 and suitably introduced into the container 20 by holding the closure24 spaced from member 21 for a short time interval.

The cylinders 46 are then actuated until the clamping ring 45 and die 66engage and sandwich the peripheral flange portion 25 of the closure 24against flange portion 22 of dish-like member 21 which is supported byring 41 and die 64, see FIGS. 4 and 5, and air at a pressure of roughly100 psig is supplied through conduit 88 of the upper cylinder 75 to holdthe die 64 with its lower surface substantially coplanar with the lowersurface of the clamping ring. The heating device 70 is in operation sothat a heat seal is provided utilizing both heat and pressure whichefficiently seals the closure 24 to the dish-like member 21 in a highstrength and optimum manner to define the multiple thickness annularportion 32 illustrated in FIG. 6.

With the cylinders 46 still actuated, air under pressure in uppercylinder is suitably switched from conduit 88 to conduit 87 anddecreased to a level of about 20 psig. Simultaneously, air at a pressureof roughly psig is supplied through conduit 88 of the lower air cylinder75 causing movements of the dies 66 and 64 from their positions'shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 to positions illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 to thereby formthe heat laminated tubular section 74.

Once the section 74 has been defined the air under pressure supplied tothe lower cylinder 75 is suitably switched from its conduit 87 to itsconduit 88 and reduced from 100 psig to a pressure generally of theorder of 20 psig while simultaneously the air under pressure in theupper cylinder 75 is changed from its conduit 87 to its conduit 88 andincreased from roughly 20 psig to 100 psig. This switching action causesmovement of the dies 64 and 66 from their positions shown in FIGS. 7 and8 to new positions illustrated in FIGS. 9

and 10 whereby the substantially toroidal inside surface defined bycooperating cutouts and 126 forms the annular bead 33 which is spacedfrom the 'vertical'side wall of the container 20 by the annular planarportion 34 of lamination 32 and serves as a shield for such side wall.

vided adjoining the upper portion of the, die 64. However, it will beappreciated that any suitable means may be provided for heatingtheheat-scalable material provided on flange portions 22 and 25 of members21 and 24 respectively. In addition, the heating device 70 may becarried by the die 66, if desired.

The various cylinders 46 and 75 illustrated in this example of theinvention are shown as air cylinders and the air pressures previouslymentioned as being used with certain cylinders were only given forexplanatory purposes. It will also be appreciated thatany suitableactuator may be provided whether it be a fluid operated actuator, anelectric motor driven actuator, or the like. In addition, the closure 24may be placed in position using any suitable automatic or manual means,as desired.

In this example of the invention suitable controls and associatedcontrol circuitry have not been illustrated and described for moving thevarious components to provide heat sealing of the closure 24 on thedish-like member 21. However, it is to be understood that any suitablecontrol means may be provided for sequencing the components such as thecylinders, heating elements, vacuum pump, etc., to provide eithersemiautomatic or substantially fully automatic sealing ofeach closure onan associated dish-like member. Further, suitable conveyor means mayalso be provided to enable automatic loading of dish-like members andclosures into the apparatus 36 and unloading of sealed containers 20therefrom.

In this example of the invention the entire inside surface of thedish-like member 21 and the inside surface of the closure 24 is shown ashaving a heat-scalable material bonded thereagainst as a layer. However,it will be appreciated that the heat-sealable material may be providedonly on one of such inside surfaces or only on one or both of theperipheral flange portionsl22 and 250i themembers 21 and 24respectively, if desired. Further, any suitable heat-scalable materialmay be used and typical materials which may be used include hot meltadhesives, polyvinyl chloride, Polypropylene, and polyethylene, forexample.

After forming the multiple thickness bonded portion 32 in this exemplarypresentation of the invention, the dies 64 and 66 are first movedupwardly, asseen in FIG. 8, to define the tubular section 74 andthensuch be appreciated that in some applications of this invenan annularhead which is substantially identical to the bead 33. r

The apparatus 36 has beendescribed above as being used to define theexemplary dish-like container illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3; however,it will be appreciated that the apparatus 36. may be used to define thedish-like container illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, or 2C by suitablymodifying various component portions thereof in a manner now to bedescribed. In particular,

it will be appreciated that the ring 41 may have its top annularsurfacet42- suitably modified to be either upwardly convex; upwardly.concave, or undulating while modifying the .oppositely arranged bottomsurface of .the clamping ring 45 in, a cooperating manner so as to beeither downwardly concave, downwardly convex, or undulating respectivelyto thereby enable forming of dish-likecontainers having peripheralflange means as tion it is preferable that the dies 64 and 66 andassociated components be suitably modified and such dies operated bybeing firstxmoved downwardly to define a substantially tubular section,similar to section illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C.

Because the. containers of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are very similar to thecontainer. 20 they will be designated by the reference numerals 20A,20B, and 20C. For ease of presentation and understanding, the variouscomponent portions of each container have also been designated by thesame reference numerals as in the container 20 followed by the letterdesignation A, B, or C,.corresponding to the particular letterdesignation of the dish-like container being referred to; and, it is tobe understood that the previous detailed description of each componentof container 20 is in general fully applicable to each container 20 ACand thus will not be repeated.

Another exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of this invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1117 of the apparatus 135 may be suitably modifiedto incorporate the necessary heating means similar to the heating device70 to enable placing of the dish-like portion or member 21 in positionwithin the apparatus 135 and then sealing .the closure member 24thereagainst. Further, it will be appreciated that suitable means mayalso be incorporated in the apparatus 135, if desired, to evacuate thespace within the container prior to sealing the closure 24 in position,as well as supplying means for introducing an inert gas such as nitrogenfrom any suitable source into the container 20 prior to sealing theclosure 24 in position.

The apparatus comprises a lower support 136 which carries a containersupporting ring 137 which is fixed thereto using any suitable techniqueand the ring has a stepped top surface indicated generally by thereference numeral .138 and is comprised of an outer surface 141 definedby a bore therethrough and a cylindrical surface 142 of larger diameterwhich is defined by a counterbore in the lower portion of ring 137 tothereby define a stop in the form of an annular surface 143 extendingbetween the top edge of surface 142 and the bottom edge of surface 141.t

The apparatus 135 has a lower member which will be referred to as alower die 145 which is carried by the lower support 136 concentricallywithin ring 137 and die 145 is axially movable within such ring. The die145 has an annular top surface 147 and means in the form of a pluralityof compression springs 1S0 acting between the lower support 136 and thedie 145 yieldingly urging the die 145 so that the top surface 147 issubstantially coplanar with the outer portion 139 of the stepped topsurface 138 of ring 137. Each compression spring 150 has a lower endthereof received within a cavity or bore 151 in the lower support 136and has an upper end thereof received within a cooperating bore 152 inthe lower die 145 and the bore 152 which is arranged in axial alignmentwith the bore 151 of the lower support 136.

The lower die has a cavity 153 defined therein which is particularlyadapted to receive an unbeaded container comprised of member 21 having aclosure 24 sealed thereagainst to enable forming the peripheral bead 33in the peripheral portion of the flange means 32. The lower die 145 alsohas a lower comparatively large diameter cylindrical surface 154 whichengages and supports the die 145 for sliding movement along surface 142of ring 137 and has a smaller diameter cylindrical surface 155 whichsupports such die for slid ing movement along the surface 141. A surface156 extends between the top edge of surface 154 and the bottom edge ofsurface 155 and defines a projection or stop which engages the stopsurface 143 to limit the outward movement of the lower die 145 andthereby control the extent that the compression springs 150 mayyieldingly urge the lower die 145 upwardly.

The apparatus 135 has an upper support 157 which has an upper die 160suitably fixed thereto for movement therewith. The upper die 160 has abottom surface 161 which is surrounded by an adjoining surface whichwill be referred to as an annular peripheral bottom surface 162 which isarranged above and substantially parallel to the surface 161. The upperdie 160 has a cylindrical outside surface 163 which adjoins the outeredge surface 162 with a small arcuate surface 164 being providedtherebetween. The surfaces 161 and 162 enable a recess 159 to be definedin the closure 24 of container20 which allows for outward expansion ofsuch closure without damaging the container in the event of a pressurebuild-up in the container or expansion of its contents by freezing.

The apparatus 135 also has what will be referred to as clamping ring 165which is supported around the upperdie 160 and the ring 165 is axiallymovable relative to the upper die 160. The ring 165 has an annularbottom clamping surface 166 and a plurality of compression springs 167are provided and act between the upper support 157 and the clamping ring165 to yieldingly urge the ring 165 so that its clamping surface 166 issubstantially coplanar with the annular surface 162 of the upper die160.

Each compression spring 167 has an upper end received within acylindrical bore 170 in the upper sup port 157 and a lower end receivedwithin a bore 171 in the clamping ring 165 which is arranged in axialalignment with bore 170. The clamping ring 165 is provided with asuitable stop means defined by bolts 168 each having a head portion168A, a threaded lower portion 168B threadedly received within theclamping ring 165, and an intermediate smooth rod-like portion 168C, seeFIG. 11. Each rod-like portion extends through an opening or bore 169 inthe upper support 157 and each bore 169 has a counterbore 169A whichreceives a head portion 168A of an associated screw therethrough with anannular stop surface 1698 being defined between each bore 169 andcounterbore 169A. The compression springs 167 yieldingly urge the ring165 outwardly until the lower surfaces of the bolt head portions 168Aengage stop surfaces 169B whereby the clamping surface 166 is initiallyheld substantially coplanar with annular surface 162 and during a partof the beading operation to be subsequently described the springs167'are overridden and the top surface of ring 165 is urged tightlyagainst the bottom surface of the support 157, see FIG. 13, with thebolt heads 168A move'd upwardly within their associated counterbores169A. However, it will be appreciated that the stop means or stop forring 165 may be constructed in a similar manner as the stop for thelower die 145, if desired.

The apparatus has a plurality of guide posts 172 which have their lowerends suitably fixed to the lower support 136 and have their upper endsslidably received within an associated sleeve bearing 173 which is fixedto the upper support 157 by press fitting, welding, or the like, asshown at 174. The apparatus 135 normally holds its supports in the openor spaced position illustrated in FIG. 11 so that it can receive adishlike container which is to be beaded therewithin whereby the upperend portions of the guide posts 172 engage only the lower portions ofthe sleeve bearings 173. Upon moving the supports 136 and 157 togetherin a manner to be subsequently described, the upper ends of the guideposts 172 are received within the sleeve bearings 173 initially asillustrated in FIG. 12 and then as illustrated in FIG. 13 whereby thesupports 136 and 157 and their associated components are moved whilebeing held in precise vertical alignment to enable forming of theperipheral bead 33 in the peripheral flange means of the dish-likecontainer.

The upper die has a plurality of vertical passages 175 extending fromthe lower surface thereof to a central chamber 176 in such die andchamber 176 in turn has suitable passage means 177 interconnecting suchchamber to ambient. The passages 175 and 177 with their associatedchamber 176 assure that as the upper die 160 is brought into positiontoward the closure member of the dish-like container there will be noair trapped between such upper die and the upper portion of thecontainer which would tend to prevent proper operation of the apparatus135.

The exemplary apparatus 135 has its lower support 136 and its uppersupport 157 suitably fixed to plates 180 and 181 respectively which maycomprise a lower and upper platen respectively of a standard press.Accordingly, any suitable moving means, whether mechanical (such as astandard mechanical device used to provide reciprocating movements),hydraulic, or pneumatic may be utilized to relativelymove the plates 180and 181 and, hence, their respective supports 13.6 and 157 toward andaway from each other.

For simplicity of presentation, a double arrow 182 has been shown on theplate 181 toindicate moving means for moving such plate and its support157 vertically in either direction with the lower plate 180 and support136 being held stationary. I-Iowever,-it will be appreciated that-theupper plate and its supportmay be held stationary and only the lowerplate and its support relatively moved toward and away therefrom or bothupper and lower supports and their associated plates may be moved towardand away fromeach other.

The container supporting ring 137 has what will be referred to as afirst annular cutout 184 adjoiningboth the outer edge of its insidecylindricalsurface 141 and the inner edge of surface 140. Similarly, theclamping ring 165 has a second annular cutout 185 adjoining both itscylindrical surface 163 and the inner edge of its surface 166. Thecutouts 184 and 185 cooperate to define a substantially toroidal insidesurfacexwhich is used to form the bead 33 :in the container 20 in amanner to be subsequently described, see FIG. 14.

Having described the cooperating component portions of the apparatus 135in detail, a detailed presentation will now be made of the manner inwhich thecomponents of apparatus 135 and their associated surfacescooperate to define the bead 33 in the bonded lamination or flange means32 to define the completed container 20.

The apparatus 135 is opened to the position illustrated in FIG. 11 andan unbeaded sealed container is moved in position so that its flangemeans 32 issupported on the outer annular surface portion 139 of thestepped surface 138 of the supporting ring 137 with the inner portion ofsuch flange means being supported on the surface 147. The moving meansfor the upper plate 181 and support 157 is then actuated to therebyinitially relatively move the supports and, hence, the dies and ringstoward each other and clamp the flange means 32 therebetween essentiallyas illustrated in FIG. 12. In this position the outer portion of theflange means 32 is clamped tightly in position between the surface 139and surface 166, as shown at 178, to assure that once the cooperatingdies and rings are moved further together the outer portion will notslip or flap" in a detrimental manner.

With further movement of the supports 136 and 157 toward each other, theouter portion of the flange means is moved between surfaces 140 and 166which exert sufficient pressure to prevent wrinkling and yet allowslipping movement. The vertical distance or gap indicated at 179, seeFIG. 14, between surfaces 139 and 140 will vary depending upon theparticular container being beaded; however, in one application whereinthe thickness of the flange means or lamination was 0.012 0.015 inch thegap at 179 was 0.010 inch.

The dies and rings cooperate to first define a substantially tubularsection which is also designated by the reference numeral 74 as in theprevious description in connection with the apparatus 36 and as shown inFIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings. Upon moving the sup- :14 ports awayfrom each other, the dies and rings cooperate to form the section 74 inthe form of the annular bead 33 which has a roughly circularcross-sectional outline as illustratedin FIGS. 15 and 16 of thedrawings.

The action of the apparatus is such that once the supports 136 and 157are moved together in the manner illustrated in FIG. 12, the peripheralannular surface 1620f the upper die 160 is arranged generally oppositethe annulartop surface 147 of the lower die 145, with the innerportionof the annular clamping surface l66'of clamping ring being arrangedgenerally opposite the stepped surface 138 of the container supportingring. In this position, it will be seen that the peripheral portion ofthe flange means 32 is tightly clamped between the surface 139 and theclamping surface 166 so that during subsequent movement of the upper die160 within the ring 137 the flange means 32 is firmly held during theinitial movement used to form the tubular section 74, aspreviouslymentioned.

The ring 137 hasits inside surface 141 spaced outwardly from the outsidesurface 163 of the upper die 160 by a controlled thickness which isdetermined by the thickness of the flange means 32. Thus, afterinitially moving the supports 136 and 157 together to clamp the flangemeans in a forming position in the manner described above, furtherrelative movement of the supports 136 and 157 toward each other causesthe upper die to override lower compression springs 150 and causes thecontainer supporting ring 137 to override the compression springs 167and thereby vertically move the entire filled and sealed dish-likecontainer beneath the stepped surface 138 of the ring 137, see FIG. 14,to define the tubular section 74. In this position the upper end of thetubular section 74 is within the substantially toroidal surface definedby surfaces 184 and 185.

Upon actuation of the moving means so that the plates and 181 and,hence, their associated supports 136 and 157 are relatively moved apart,the now compressed compression springs 150 operate to move the lower die145 in a telescoping manner upwardly while the compression springs 167operate to move clamping ring 165 downwardly causing the outer portionof the tubular portion 74 to engage surfaces 184 and 185 and define theannular bead33 essentially as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 of thedrawings.

The apparatus 135 also has a device designated generally by thereference numeral 186, refer to FIGS.

13 and 17, which is particularly adapted for lifting the now beadedcontainer 20 away from supporting ring 137 to the dotted line positionindicated at 187 in FIG. 17. The device 186 comprises a comparativelythin flat plate 188 carried within the cavity 153 in the lower die 145and plate 188 has a rod 190 suitably attached thereto, such as againstthe lower surface thereof. The rod 190 extends through aligned openings191, 192, and 193 in the plate 180, support 136, and lower die 145respectively and such rod may be actuated by a suitable actuator ofknown construction to raise the plate 188 and the beaded container 20once the the beading operation has been completed and then lower suchplate back into position against a surface 194 defining the bottom ofthe die cavity 153. The actuator for rod 190 and action thereof isrepresented schematically by the double arrow 195.

The rod 190 may be synchronized with the operating movement of the plate181 so as to automatically raise the beaded container when the beadingoperation has been completed. Further, the rod 190 preferably raises thebeaded container sufficiently above the ring 137, as shown at 187 inFIG. 17, to enable removal of such container by a lateral transfermechanism essentially in a horizontal direction substantially parallelto the top surface of the plate 188.

The upper die 160 and its associated components have been provided withsuitable passage means to prevent air from being trapped between theclosure 24 and the upper die 160 during the beading operation.Similarly, the plate 188 may also have suitable openings 188A providedtherein communicating with passages 193, 192, and 191 to prevent airfrom being trapped between the dish-like container and the lower die145.

The exemplary apparatus 135 has been illustrated and described with itssupports 136 and 157 suitably fixed to plates 180 and 181 respectivelycomprising a standard press. However, it will be appreciated that theplates 180 and 181 may be suitably modified to define supports 136 and157 without requiring the provision of the separate supports 136 and157.

As previously indicated, the apparatus 36 may be suitably modified todefine containers A, 208, or 20C. It will also be appreciated that theapparatus 135 may also be suitably modified to define such containersand particular attention is now directed to FIGS. 18 and 19 of thedrawings. FIG. 18 illustrates the manner in which the .top surface ofdie 145 and the peripheral surface portion of the upper die 160 may bemodified as indicated by solid lines and designated respectively by thereference. numerals 147A and 162A to enable forming the beaded container20A of FIG. 2A having the inner portion of its flange means 32A definedin an upwardly convex configuration with the bead 33A at the terminalend of such flange means. FIG. 18 also illustrates the manner in whichthe top surface of lower die 145 and the peripheral surface portion ofthe upper die 160 may also be suitably modified as indicated by dottedlines and designated respectively by the reference numerals 1478 and162B to enable forming the beaded container 20B of FIG. 28 having theinner portion of its flange means 32B defined in an upwardly concaveconfiguration with the bead 338 at the terminal end of such flangemeans.

As seen in FIG. 19, the lower die 145 may also have its annular topsurface made as an undulating surface 147C with the annular peripheralsurface portion of the upper die 160 made as a cooperating undulatingsurface 162C to thereby define a dish-like container having its bondedlamination or flange means 32C made in the form of an undulatingconfiguration, as viewed in cross-section, with the bead 33C at the endof such flange means. It should be emphasized that by forming the innerportion of the flange means or bonded lamination, either to an arcuateconfiguration or to an undulating configuration, the annular bead formedin the outer periphery of its associated dish-like container is held inspaced relation from the side walls of the dishlike container withgreater strength and rigidity and thereby provides optimum shield-likeprotection for such side walls. In addition, the roughly toroidalconfiguration of the peripheral bead greatly strengthens such bead andassures such bead and its adjoining flange means cannot be deformedradially inwardly against the container.

Certain words and phrases such as top," bottom, inner, outer, upwardly,"downwardly, etc., have been used throughout this specification andclaims to indicate various positions of certain parts and surfaces asillustrated in the drawings; however, it is to be understood that theseparts and surfaces may be suitably arranged in any desired manner. Forexample, the overall apparatus disclosed herein may be inverted 'and theunbeaded sealed container may be suitably repositioned for fonning totake this into account.

7 While present exemplary embodiments of this invention, and methods ofpracticing the same, have been illustrated and described, it will berecognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied andpracticed within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming a bead in a peripheral portion of flangemeans of a preformed dish-like container, said apparatus comprising alower support, a container supporting ring carried by said lower supportand having an annular top surface adapted to support the outer portionof said flange means and a stop surface, a lower die carried by saidlower support and being axially movable within said container supportingring, said lower die having a cavity therein for receiving saidcontainer and said lower die having a stop which is adapted to engagesaid stop surface and positively limit its axial movement verticallyupwardly, an upper sup port having an upper die fixed thereto formovement therewith, a clamping ring supported around said upper die andbeing axially movable relative thereto, means for relatively moving saidsupports toward and away from each other, said moving means initiallymoving said supports and hence said dies and rings toward each other toclamp said flange means therebetween and with further movement of saidsupports toward each other said dies and rings cooperate to first definea substantially tubular section andupon moving said supports away fromeach other said dies and rings cooperate to form said section in theform of an annular bead having a roughly circular cross-sectionaloutline, said upper die having a peripheral annular bottom surface and acylindrical outside surface adjoining said peripheral bottom surfacewhich defines the inside surface of said tubular section, said clampingring having an annular clamping surface and first means yieldinglyurging said clamping ring so that its clamping surface is substantiallycoplanar with said annular peripheral bottom surface of said upper die,said lower die having an annular surface and second means yieldinglyurging said lower die until said stop engages said stop surface tothereby position its annular surface substantially coplanar with saidannular top surface of said container supporting ring, said containersupporting ring having an inside surface corresponding to and beingspaced outwardly from said cylindrical outside surface of said upper dieby a controlled thickness determined by the thickness of said flangemeans and said container supporting ring having a first annular cutoutadjacent the top edge of its inside surface, said clamping ring having asecond annular cutout adjacent the lower edge of its inside surface,said annular cutouts cooperating to define a substantially toroidalinside surface, said moving means initially relatively moving saidsupports and their associated dies and rings together to clamp saidflange means therebetween and with further movement together said upperdie overrides said second means of said lower die and said containersupporting ring overrides said first means of said clamping ring to movesaid dish-like container beneath the top surface of said containersupporting ring to define said tubular section and upon said movement ofsaid supports away from each other said yielding means urge theirassociated components outwardly with said dies held firmly together tothereby move said container upwardly causing said tubular section to beformed in said substantially toroidal inside surface to define saidannular bead, a plurality of cooperating openings in said upper die andits associated components and a plurality of cooperating openings insaid lower die and its associated components for relieving any airtrapped between said container and said dies to prevent buildup ofpressure during the forming of said annular bead, and a device forlifting said container away from. said supporting ring and said lowerdie to enable easy removal thereof from said apparatus, said devicecomprising a plate carried within a cavity in said lower die and a rodattached to said plate, said rod extending through said lower die andbeing movable to raise and lower said plate so that said container maybe lifted vertically above said supporting ring and lower die to enableremoval thereof.

1. An apparatus for forming a bead in a peripheral portion of flange means of a preformed dish-like container, said apparatus comprising a lower support, a container supporting ring carried by said lower support and having an annular top surface adapted to support the outer portion of said flange means and a stop surface, a lower die carried by said lower support and being axially movable within said container supporting ring, said lower die having a cavity therein for receiving said container and said lower die having a stop which is adapted to engage said stop surface and positively limit its axial movement vertically upwardly, an upper support having an upper die fixed thereto for movement therewith, a clamping ring supported around said upper die and being axially movable relative thereto, means for relatively moving said supports toward and away from each other, said moving means initially moving said supports and hence said dies and rings toward each other to clamp said flange means therebetween and with further movement of said supports toward each other said dies and rings cooperate to first define a substantially tubular section and upon moving said supports away from each other said dies and rings cooperate to form said section in the form of an annular bead having a roughly circular cross-sectional outline, said upper die having a peripheral annular bottom surface and a cylindrical outside surface adjoining said peripheral bottom surface which defines the inside surface of said tubular section, said clamping ring having an annular clamping surface and first means yieldingly urging said clamping ring so that its clamping surface is substantially coplanar with said annular peripheral bottom surface of said upper die, said lower die having an annular surface and second means yieldingly urging said lower die until said stop engages said stop surface to thereby position its annular surface substantially coplanar with said annular top surface of said container supporting ring, said container supporting ring having an inside surface corresponding to and being spaced outwardly from said cylindrical outside surface of said upper die by a controlled thickness determined by the thickness of said flange means and said container supporting ring having a first annular cutout adjacent the top edge of its inside surface, said clamping ring having a second annular cutout adjacent the lower edge of its inside surface, said annular cutouts cooperating to define a substantially toroidal inside surface, said moving means initially relatively moving said supports and their associated dies and rings together to clamp said flange means therebetween and with further movement together said upper die overrides said second means of said lower die and said container supporting ring overrides said first means of said clamping ring to move said dish-like container beneath the top surface of said container supporting ring to define said tubular section and upon said movement of said supports away from each other said yielding means urge their associated components outwardly with said dies held firmly together to thereby move said container upwardly causing said tubular section to be formed in said substantially toroidal inside surface to define said annular bead, a plurality of cooperating openings in said upper die and its associated components and a plurality of cooperating openings in said lower die and its associated components for relieving any air trapped between said container and said dies to prevent buildup of pressure during the forming of said annular bead, and a device for lifting said container away from said supporting ring and said lower die to enable easy removal thereof from said apparatus, said device comprising a plate carried within a cavity in said lower die and a rod attached to said plate, said rod extending through said lower die and being movable to raise and lower said plate so that said container may be lifted verticaLly above said supporting ring and lower die to enable removal thereof. 